Machine for handling fruit



Feb. 9, 1954 e. w. ASHLOCK, JR

MACHINE FOR HANDLING FRUIT 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed April 19, 1950 M R. WW, M 6 7 w Feb. 9, 1954 G. w. AsHLocK, JR

MACHINE FOR HANDLING FRUIT Original Filed April 19, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 i 1 I l l l 1 a r I BY [QM a Armmey Feb. 9, 1954 G. w. ASHLOCK, JR ,668,6 3

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Feb. 9, 1954 G. w. ASHLOCK, JR 2,668,613

MACHINE FOR HANDLING FRUIT Original Filed April 19, 19.50 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR.

Wye ZMM/x/c, /r Y ma-W finnnrmp r Patented Feb. 9, 1954 MACHINE FOR HANDLING FRUIT George W. Ashlock, J r., Oakland, Calif.

Original application April 19, 1950, :Serial No. 156,761. Divided and this application March 15, 1951, Serial No. 215,799

2 Claims. (01. 198-33) This invention relates to a machine for removing the pits from dates, prunes, and like fruit. Dried dates and prunes present very special problems with respect to the removal of the pit or stone for the individual fruits are irregular in shape and, because of their high sugar content, are frequently quite sticky. In addition, it is sometimes advantageous to handle these fruits, particularly prunes, while hot and wet so that the problem of aligning the fruit for a stone removal is even more difficult.

I have found that such fruit can be successfully pitted if it is first supported along a portion of its side. Thereafter, the fruit stone is ejected through the supported side portion of the fruit. This, I have found, results in a minimum distortion of the fruit for the support provided to the side through which the pit is ejected closes adequately the puncture in the fruit side and the flesh is not exposed. Further, it requires only that the stone be moved a relatively short distance until it is separated from the fruit, thus facilitating the pitting operation and making the removal of the whole stone from the fruit that much more certain.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel feed. mechanism for feeding dried fruits such as dates, prunes and the like to a processing mechanism.

The invention includes other objects and features of advantage, some of which, together with the foregoing, will appear hereinafter wherein the present preferred form of the machine of this invention is disclosed.

Referring to the drawings accompanying and forming a part hereof,

Figure 1 is a side elevation with some parts of the machine broken away to illustrate the construction employed.

Figure 2 is a section taken through the feeding mechanism and a portion of the processing con veyor.

Figure 3 is a plan view of a portion of the feeding conveyor, while Figure 4. is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 5 is a plan view of a portion of a form of pitting chuck which can be employed.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the pitting chuck shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a section taken 'along the line 1'l in Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a side view of a portion of the pitting mechanism, while Figures 9 and 10 are, respectively, sections taken along the line 9-9 and l0lll in Figure 8, the latter being shown in position over a-chuck which is not shown in Figure 8.

Figure 11 is a side view of a modified form of another pitting mechanism which can be employed.

Figure 12 is a bottom view of the pitting mechanism shown in Figure 11, a portion of the bottom plate being omitted from the left-hand side of the figure.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary view of a mechanism for removing pitted fruit from a chuck, a plan view of this mechanism being shown in Figure 14.

Referring to the drawings, the machine includes a frame made up of spaced side plates ll and t2 supported in a suitable parallel spaced relation and "having legs .13 thereon. Shafts l4, l5 and I6 are mounted at opposite corners of the frame, the shafts respectively having pairs of sprockets ll, I8 and i9 thereon about which are trained chains 22 to provide a main fruit conveyor 2|. Fruit holders, generally indicated as 23, are extended between the chains, one form thereof being shown in Figures 5, 6 and '7. A sub-frame Z4 is mounted upon side plates l l and 12 an electric motor-speed reducer unit, generally indicated at 25, is mounted thereon to drive suitable pitting mechanism generally indicated at 36 and which is more particularly shown in my Patents 2,157,518 and 2,219,832; the prime mover includes a shaft 26 having a sprocket 21 thereon driving a chain 28, this in turn being passed about .a sprocket 29 on a shaft 31 in the pitting mechanism (corresponding to shaft 39 in the aforesaid patents). Also mounted on shaft is .a sprocket 32, chain 33 being trained about this and about a sprocket 34 on shaft l5 to drive the main fruit conveyor 2! in a timed relation with the pitting mechanism 30. The upper run of conveyor 21 is supported by guide rails 36 provided along the inside of each of plates H and 12; the guide "rails are preferably provided in several sections, 36a, 36b and 360, the first and last of which are-secured to the inside face of each of side plates while the intermedate section, 3627, is movably supported on the side plates and is vibrated by the vibrating mechanism generally indicated at 31, at about 1800 alterations per minute. Such vibrating'mechanism and the supably between the chain 22 in the well-known manner. The base plate includes circular apertures 42 therein and four spaced pins 43 provided equidistantly about each circular aperture 42. A rubber cover plate 44 fits snugly upon the pins and includes a circular portion 45 fitting in the aperture 42 and depending below the upper face of the base plate 4i; each plate also includes a plurality of fruit receiving receptacles or cavities 46; in the form illustrated, three receptacles are shown but more or less can be provided, as desired. In that form of the receptacle 46, shown in Figures -7, each is of a conoidal shape and includes a narrow slit 4'! in the bottom portion thereof parallel to the major axis of the receptacle. A slot 48 extends across each receptacle along the minor axis of the cavity to admit of certain presently described mechanism utilized to remove fruit from the receptacle and which is shown in Figures 13 and 14.

In that cavity shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6, flat abutments 49 are provided immediately adjacent to the intersection of the major and minor axes of each cavity, these being rovided on each side of the major axis to form a V section (Figure 7) whereby the fruit is stably supported in the receptable. Except for the abutments 423, each conoidal cavity is symmetrical about its major axis. The cavity illustrated is that generated by rotation of an ellipse about the major axis, but one can use another conic, e. g., a parabola or a hyperbola. The ratio of the minor axis to the major'axis should be from 0.35 to 0.85, the preferred range being from 0.4 to 0.8 with the preferred ratio being 0.55. The length of each abutment 49 should be approximately that of the average size stone in the fruit. The fiat face of each abutment should be of a depth sufficient to provide an adequate guide to the fruit stone; a depth measured along the face of about 0.5 of the minor axis usually sufflcing. The two faces should be at an angle of from 45 to 100 to one another.

The receptacle shown in Figures 5-7 and previously described is one suited to the orienting and pitting of dried prunes and some sizes of dates. With other fruits other receptacle forms may be employed and the various mechanisms disclosed are not limited to use with only the specific form of receptacle disclosed; one can employ what is in effect a semi-cylindrical cavity. In any case, the cavity has a major and a minor axis at 90 to each other and in the same plane, the cavity being so placed that the pitting knife or knives move to stone the fruit at 90 to each axis, as will appear.

The feed conveyor (Figure 2) includes spaced shafts BI, 62 and 63 mounted at spaced corners on frame plates 64 and 65. The plates are joined by several transverse members 66 and an end wall 67, a side wall 68 and a bottom skid plate 81 are provided to confine the fruit, as will appear. Each of shafts 6|, 62 and 63 includes sprocket pairs H, 12 and 13 at each end supporting chains 14, shaft 6i being driven by a gear 16 meshing with a gear 17 on shaft [4. Extended transversely between the chains 14 are a plurality of fruit holders generally indicated at BI comprising longitudinal strip members extended between each of the chains and having apertures 82 therein for attachment by suitable studs to each of the chains.

Each of the carrier members 8| includes a fruit receptacle 83 along an edge, the recess being closed by the edge of the immediately adjacent 4 carrier member Bl to provide a complete enclosure for an article. In the form shown, each carrier member leading edge and trailing edge is provided with a recess, the adjacent recesses cooperating to provide the complete receptacle. Each of plates 64 and 65 includes openings 86 therein through which fruit to be fed is intro duced.

The chains are movable over a path in which they rise over the bottom supporting plate or skid plate 8'! provided between the plates E4 and 65, the fruit falling into each of the various receptacles on the carriers and being conveyed along the skid plate, a brush 88 being positioned transversely between the plates to sweep back any excess fruit which is not within a receptacle between adjacent carriers. The supporting plate 31 includes a horizontal portion 89 from whence the conveyor passes upwardly about sprockets ll. Sprockets H are provided immediately adjacent and cooperatively with respect to sprocket I! whereby, as the fruit carriers 8! pass about sprockets 1|, they move apart, as is illustrated in Figure 2, and the fruit therein is released from support of the skid plate and drops into a cooperatively positioned receptacle 45 on carrier 2 I the two conveyors being moved in a timed relation to effect a timed feeding and filling of each of the cavities in the carrier 2 i. It is to be noted that each receptacle in the fruit holders 8i is of a suitable configuration, preferably conoidal, to admit readily the elongated dates and prunes; the receptacles can be provided completely as a recess in an edge of one member, being completed by the adjacent edge of the next adjacent member. 7

As the fruit is moved along on the processing conveyor, the vibration imparted to such conveyor by the vibrator 31 further assists in alignment of the fruit within the receptacles so that the fruit is aligned by the time it is in position for pitting. c

The pitting mechanism is generally disclosed in my aforementioned Patents 2,157,513 and 2,219,832. As appears in Figures 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, the pitting mechanism includes reciprocally mounted plungers 9! (corresponding to plungers H in my Patent 2,291,832) moved in a timed relation to the conveyor 2i, the plunger ends having a plate 92 provided therebetween and to which the pitting mechanism generally indicated at 93 is attached, the plunger ends fitting into the plate 91 and a threaded sleeve 94, extending through a hole in the plates 92 and 97 and having nuts 96 and 98a on each end, securing the pitting mechanism 93 on the plungers for reciprocation with these. The pitting mechanism -93 includes an upper plate 97 and a'lower plate 93, a guide rod 99 being secured at each end of the lower plate 98 and movable in a guide bushing l0] secured to the upper plate 97, a spring 582 being provided about each guide rod and between the plates whereby the lower plate is urged away from the upper plate. To limit the movement of the lower plate 98 with respect to the upper plate 91, a rod I03 is secured to the lower plate to extend slidably through sleeve 94, a rubber -washer I04 being provided between a nut I05 on the end of the rod and nut on the upper end of the sleeve.

Secured in upper plate 91 are a plurality of knives, generally indicated. at I05, these being detachably secured by set-screwsiiil engaging the ends I98 which are "inserted into suitable apertures in the upper plate 97. The knives pass snugly through plate 98, the plate acting as a stripper to remove fruit adhering to each knife; guides I99 are provided about the outer knives. The lower plate 99 carries adjustable ribs H9 at each end to limit the compressive force applied by the lower plate to fruit on the conveyor 2| so the fruit is not crushed, the ribs engaging the opposite ends of each pair of conveyor strips moved into pitting position. In that form shown in Figures 8-10, secondary ribs iii are provided transversely of plate 98 to retain fruit in a cavity in position during pitting.

In that form of pitting mechanism shown in Figures 11 and 12, the knives we are provided in pairs for cooperative operation with each fruit receptacle, the stripper plate 98 being fiat. The knife pairs engage opposite ends of a fruit stone to force the stone through the side of the fruit. Each knife includes three cutting blades thereon at an angle of 120 to each other; two of the blades, those indicated at H9, depend angularly to form a V-shaped receptacle, while the end of the other blade H1 is horizontal, the horizontal blade ends in each pair being parallel and aligning with the major axis of the fruit stone and the first receptacle. The two angular blades H6 thus extend on each side of the stone at an end thereof while the horizontal blade H! extends along the stone; by using two of these knives, the stone is held firmly and is forced as a body out of the fruit. This is of advantage in fruit having a relatively long stone as a date, for a single knife tends to tip the stone or else break it in the middle whereby the fruit is not pitted satisfactorily.

To remove pitted fruit which may become jammed in one of the receptacles (Figures 1, 13 and 14), I provide a plate I I 2 across the front of the machine with a plurality of upwardly extending fingers I I3 thereon, each finger having an end H4 formed to slip into and slide along each slot 48 to engage fruit behind a flat in a receptacle whereby any fruit jammed in the receptacle is removed.

In operation, the feed conveyor and the pitting conveyor each move continuously in a timed relation, while the vibrating mechanism operates continuously to vibrate the intermediate portion of the pitting conveyor. The fruit is fed into the feed hopper from whence it is picked up and delivered, the majority of the fruit being oriented by the time it is in place on the pitting conveyor and immediately following its release by the feed conveyor and deposit on the pitting conveyor. Such fruit as is not oriented is vibrated on the pitting conveyor and is in a desired predetermined position by the time the fruit reaches the pitting station. At the pitting station, the fruit stone is engaged whereby the stone is moved through the side of the fruit and does not turn, twist or break in the fruit. The release of the fruit stone through a small, narrow aperture results in closure of the side of the fruit whereby the fruit appears undamaged and uncut when examined and the flesh is not exposed. Subsequently the fruit drops off the conveyor, or is removed therefrom if it happens to have become jammed.

This application is a division of my co-pending application Serial No. 156,761, filed April 19, 1950, and now Patent No. 2,604,131.

Iclaim: l. A machine for feeding dates, prunes and the like elongated fruit having a length substantially greater than its width, the machine comprising fruit receiving means for holding a bulk supply or" said fruit; a conveyor movable through said fruit supply and including a plurality of strip members movable through said fruit receiving means; each strip member having a recess along an edge thereof cooperatively positioned with respect to an adjacent edge on the next adjacent strip member to provide a fruit holder for receiving and retaining one of said fruit from the bulk supply of fruit in said fruit receiving means; a skid member for supporting a fruit retained in one of said recesses; and means for moving said conveyor over a path, including a first portion parallel to the skid member wherein the fruit retained in each of said recesses is rolled about and is positioned with its longitudinal axis parallel to the skid plate, and a second portion commencing adjacent a terminal end of said skid plate and diverging away from said first path portion and wherein immediately adjacent strip members separate to release an aligned fruit confined in a recess between said immediately adjacent strip members for a gravital fall.

2. In a machine for feeding dates, prunes and.

like elongated fruit having a length substantially greater than its width, the machine comprising fruit receiving means for holding a bulk supply of said fruit; a conveyor movable through said fruit supply and including a plurality of strip members, each having a leading and a trailing edge and movable through said fruit receiving means, each strip member having a recess along its leading edge cooperatively positioned with respect to a like recess in the trailing edge on the next adjacent strip member to provide a fruit holder for receiving and retaining one of said fruit from the bulk supply of fruit in said fruit receiving means; a skid member for supporting a fruit retained in a recess; and means for moving said conveyor over a path including a first portion parallel to the skid member wherein the fruit retained in each of said recesses is rolled about and is positioned with its longitudinal axis parallel to the skid plate, and a second portion commencing adjacent a terminal end of said skid plate and diverging away from first path portion and wherein adjacent strip members separate to release an aligned fruit confined in a recess between the adjacent strip members for a gravital fall.

GEORGE W. ASHLOCK, J R.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 967,758 Goldman Aug. 16, 1910 1,470,060 Constant Oct. 9, 1923 1,930,621 Meyer Oct. 17, 1933 2,096,105 Grifiith Oct. 19, 1937 2,157,518 Ashlock May 9, 1939 2,250,518 Ashlock July 29, 1941 2,298,614 Carroll Oct. 13, 1942 2,308,038 Ashlock Jan. 12, 1943 2,387,709 Ashlock Oct. 30, 1945 2,441,884 Johnson May 18, 1948 2,563,443 Wormser Aug. 7, 1951 

